Fence-post.



PATENTBD DEG. 17,1907.

auuznfoz W1 in woes attouuu r smuarcu n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER LEMERE, OF MARSHFIELD, WISCONSIN.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed April 24. 1907. Serial No. 369,952.

This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in fence posts, and it has particular reference to a fence post of that type which includes wire tightening means.

The invention aims as a primary object to provide a fence post of the above type involving a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the details of which will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side View of a fence post constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed section illustrating a tightening spool embodied in the invention.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the post constructed in accordance with the present invention. The post 1, as shown, is especially adapted for use as a corner post, though by varying the arrangement of the parts, it may be used equally as advantageously as an ordinary line post. Said post is of novel construction, and to this end has its body portion provided on each side thereof with recesses 2. The rear walls 3 of said recesses extend at an angle to a diameter of said post, the latter being preferably cylindrical, and the side walls of said recesses extend at a substantial right-angle to said rear walls. It will thus be seen that said side walls 4 likewise extend at an angle to a diameter of the post, and in this relation afford a centrally-located forwardly-projecting portion or tongue 5, the sides of which diverge outwardly, and the rear portion of which is of reduced diameter, as at 6. The outer walls of the recesses 2 are defined by longitudinal plates 7, arranged in parallelism to the side walls 4, and secured at their rear edge portions by suitable fastening means 8 to the body portion of the post 1, said body portion being preferably flattened as at 9, on each side thereof to permit of the plates 7 extending in parallel relation to the 7 side walls 4 of the recesses 2, without the necessity of bending said plates towards the accomplishment of such objects.

In Fig. 3, is illustrated one of the wire tightening spools or reels, of which a plurality are transversely disposed. in the recesses 2. Such spools are designated generally by the numeral 10, and comprise a suitably-shaped cylindrical body portion 11, terminating at its ends in reduced axial trunnions 12 and 13. The trunnions 12 are journaled in recesses 14 provided therefor in the side walls 4, and the trunnions 13 are projected through openings 15, provided therefor in the plates 7, and beyond said plates are formed with squared heads 16, which affords a gripping surface for a wrench or other tool employed in rotating the spools 10. Said spools adjacent the plates 7 are provided with a ratchet edge 17, and pawls 18 are pivoted, as at 19, to the inner surfaces of the plates 7, said pawls being designed for engagement with the ratchet edges 17. The spools 10 are formed approximately central thereof with undercut recesses 20, which afford flush projecting hooks 21, overhanging said recesses 20, and by means of which one end of a strand offence wire may be fixed to a spool. It will thus be seen that the recesses 2 extending longitudinally of the post 1 are so arranged that the spools 10 assembled therein have a relative angular disposition.

In taking up the slack of a strand of Wire, the spool 10, to which it is fastened, is rotated in the proper direction, by a wrench which is engaged with the squared head 16. The pawl 18 engages the ratchet edge 17 at each fraction of a revolution of the spool 10, and prevents the backward. rotation of said spool under the tension of the wire. The slack may be let out from the post 1 by raising a selected pawl 18 manually and allowing the proper spool 10 one or more revolutions.

It is preferred to construct the posts 1 of metal, and to provide them with a suitable base, bymeans of which all liability to displacement will be positively prevented, but inasmuch as such a base does not enter into the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to show or describe the same but merely to mention it in passing.

The post 1, while shown as a corner post, by varying the relation of the recesses 2, can be adapted for use as a line post, as will be readily understood, and by constructing said post with a flat face it may be advantageously employed as a gate post.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a post which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, and practical and eflicient in use.

While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape and arrangement of the several parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fence post of the type set forth, comprising a body portion having a recess therein and presenting its sides to the surface of said body portion at an angle to one another, a bearing-plate secured to said post in parallelisin to one of the sides of said recess, and spools having trunnions journaled in the material of said post and in said bearing plate.

2. A fence post of the type set forth, comprising a body portion having a longitudinal 3. A fence post of the type set forth, comprising a forwardly-projecting portion having outwardly-diverging sides defining the sides of respective longitudinal recesses, the other sides of said recesses being cut into said posts at substantial right-angles to the sides of said forwardly-projecting portion, bearing-plates secured at each side of said post adjacent said recesses, spools having trunnions journaled in said bearing-plates and in the material of said forwardly-projecting portion, each of said spools having a ratchet edge at one side thereof, and pawls pivoted to said bearing-plates above said ratchet edges and designed for respective engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

. his CHRISTOPHER LEMERE.

mark

l/Vitnesses:

' J. E. PAINE, W. T. Form. 

